10 Questions with Youngstown State's John Barnes
INDIANAPOLIS--Cam Fuller talks with Youngstown State first-year head coach John Barnes. Prior to accepting the position, Barnes served as the associate head coach at Green Bay for one season.
Meet John Barnes
Experience: First season
College: Michigan Tech, ’95
Career record: 157-57
Youngstown State: 1-2
2013-14 Outlook
- Barnes takes over a Penguin squad that finished the 2012-13 season 23-10 (11-5 Horizon League).
- The Horizon League Preseason Poll tabbed Youngstown State third in the nine-team league; behind Green Bay and Wright State.
- The Penguins return nine of their top-10 scorers from last season’s team that advanced to the second round of the WNIT, but graduated last year’s Horizon League Player of the Year Brandi Brown.
- After starting the season 0-2, Youngstown State secured its first win Nov. 20 against Northern Kentucky, 67-53.
Career Background
- Spent the 2012-13 season as the associate head coach under Kevin Borseth at Green Bay.
- Prior to Green Bay, was an assistant coach at Michigan (2011-12) and Wisconsin (2010-11).
- Posted a 156-55 record at Division II Michigan Tech from 2003-10.
- Guided the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament five times and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament three times.
- Was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year in each of his final three seasons and the WBCA Region Coach of the Year in 2010.
- Before taking the head women’s job, Barnes was an assistant coach on the men’s side from 1998-2003.
- Started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Lake Superior State for the 1995-96 season before serving as a player/coach for the St. Nocolai Basketball Club in Denmark in 1996-97.
You’ve been on the job since April 5, 2013. What are you initial impressions of the Youngstown, Ohio community?
Youngstown really supports YSU in terms of all of their athletic teams. I was really, pleasantly surprised with how involved the community is. We had a golf outing this summer and it completely sold out. That was one way the community really showed how much it loves the athletics teams at YSU. We were second in the Horizon League in attendance per game in women’s basketball last season. So it’s exciting to be at a program where the community really cares about the university and the athletics department.
After serving as the head coach at Michigan Tech from 2003-10, what does it feel like to lead your own program again?
It’s exciting, it can be difficult when you’ve been a head coach and then go back to being an assistant. I was very lucky with the bosses that I worked for—Lisa Stone at Wisconsin was a great boss and allowed me to do what I do best. Same thing with Kevin (Borseth), he gave me some things he wanted me to do and just let me go and accomplish those things. He was very open to allow me input on the team, all the scouting reports, the individual workouts and he allowed me to coach a lot.
What was the excitement like for you and your coaching staff to notch its first win on Nov. 20 against Northern Kentucky?
It was exciting getting the first win out of the way, we’ve been working hard for quite a few months so to get a ‘W’ is nice. I thought the team came out with a lot of intensity, a lot of energy, we shot the ball well and played with confidence and played good defense.
Youngstown State went 11-19 from three-point land against Northern Kentucky and is averaging 18.33 three-point attempts per game. Is this something to expect from the Penguins this season?
In the past, Youngstown State was primarily a three-point shooting team. We’re trying to go into the post a little bit more but the players that are here and that have been in the system for three or four years are definitely use to shooting a lot of threes, so I don’t want to completely change things around, I want them to do what they’re comfortable with. When they’re open, I expect them to be aggressive and shoot it.
You spent the past two seasons on the staff of Kevin Borseth coached teams. Talk about your experiences of coaching under Borseth, who has found so much success in the Horizon League (152-16 career league record).
I’ve known Kevin for many years—20 years. He was the head coach at Michigan Tech when I was a player at Michigan Tech. I got to know him a little bit there and then I was hired as an assistant for the men’s program at Michigan Tech when Kevin was still the (Michigan Tech women's) head coach so we were on all the road trips together. We got to become friends—I’ve been watching him for many, many years and hoped to work with him at some point throughout the years. The opportunity arose at Michigan and then brought me over to Green Bay as his associate head coach last year. It’s been fun working with him, I’ve learned a lot from him—and all the coaches I’ve worked with—and hope to take those things here to Youngstown and be successful over the years.
After spending one season as the associate head coach at Green Bay, does it make you more comfortable coaching in the Horizon League?
Definitely. I grew up just north of Green Bay so I’ve been familiar with them (Green Bay) and when Kevin was there I always kept up with them and the Horizon League. Coaching in the League and doing all the scouting reports I definitely understand what the Horizon League is all about and what each program likes to do and their styles. Also, one of my assistants (Andy Crane) was an assistant at Cleveland State so he was also in the League which helps out in terms of scouting and getting ready for opponents.
The Penguins lost Horizon League Player of the Year and AP Honorable Mention All-American Brandi Brown to graduation. How does a first-year head coach replace a player that has played at such a high level?
She was a great player and a great leader and we’re trying to do it collectively. Each player on the team is trying to step up their points, rebounds, assists, leadership. That’s really the only way you fill in the void Brandi Brown left. The players are doing a great job of it so far.
What are your expectations of the Horizon League this season?
I think it’s going to be very tough. Green Bay is going to be around the top, if not the top. They usually reload, not rebuild. They have some great, young players. Wright State is playing exceptionally well. There are a lot of other teams who have the firepower to fight for that top spot. I definitely see it wide open, but I see Green Bay right at the top or near the top.
If you weren’t coaching basketball, where would you be?
Boy that’s a tough one. My dad was a coach and I had some older brothers who were coaches. I might be a teacher, elementary phys. ed. teacher. I can tell you this—one of my favorite jobs of all time was a harbor master. I worked at a harbor in Escanaba and helped boaters come in and dock ‘em in. I love being on the water and own a boat so that might be something I’d do.
What can Horizon League basketball fans can expect from a John Barnes coached team?
Tough, gritty, hard-nosed, and a good defensive team. My teams in the past have been very good three-point shooting teams so hopefully we can continue that as well.
